Phil Kessel expected to return tonight

I don't think you should expect much from that guy ever.

Personally I think he will be a career IR guy.  Very tough injuries to come back from and keep healthy for a long career.

Plus I heard that he'll be playing with Jason Blake who is one of the most selfish players on the ice...Phil will be lucky to touch the puck.

I think Toronto fans will look back on this trade and shake their heads in disappointment.

uhmmmmmmmm......humble disagreement...

Johnny, Leafs just gave up what will likely be the #1 overall pick next year.  Then you give up a 1st rounder the following year plus another 2nd rounder.

Phil Kessel is a good player....but is he really worth that?  He's just a goal scorer who benefitted from playing with serious talent ala Marc Savard.  Now im not saying he wouldn't score anywhere, but he will not put up those same numbers in Toronto.  Plus he's not great defensively, not physical, etc.

Now throw in the fact that he has one of the worst injuries a player can have and he's only what 23?  That injury will plague him his whole career.

Phil Kessel will not change the face of this franchise.

mlb- I agree with the fact that  1st rounders were too much to give up for a inj prone player. I am not expecting him to be the face of the franchise...the monster will be..

if kessle manages to pot 20+...i will be satisfied with that

(this year)

building blocks, I hope ur wrong about the IR issue...for obvious reasons. 

fwiw- I had a far worse shoulder injury (throwing arm) had surgery....2 years back...I'm GTG now...and have been for over a year and a bit.I play about 100++ ball games a year...a little achy from time to time...tough to compare Hits in hockey to throwing a ball repeatedly ...I hope he bags a trick tonight...just to show his poterntial to the leafs fans....then i pray he doesnt get hammered by some goon who plays less than 5 minutes per game.

kessel nets 2 in tonight against the tampa bay badning

burke was addressing needs of scoring. i think giving up 2 first rounds was a bit pricy but this guy is only 21 years old and nets 30+. dont tell me that it is because of savard. obviously there is huge advantage playing with savard but this guy can score. haters arent giving him credit.

he will preform as a leaf!!!

I give him credit, I said he will still put up goals...just not 35+ IMO.  There simply isn't the offensive talent there was in Boston.

2 1st rounds, and a 2nd round.  And the way the Leafs are going both those 1st rounders will be #1 overall picks.

So really you are looking at Tyler Hall + 2 more solid draft picks for Phi Kessel?

It's not just his shoulder, he has a chronic back problem as well.  It's the back that concerns me moreso than the shoulder.

I heard Blake and Stajan.

Why would they put him with Blake...makes no sense.

Quote Originally Posted by weeble5672:

I think he does know. 

He acknowledged that there's pressure anytime when playing for the Leafs. 

That what they all say weebs ... 2 first and 1 second round draft picks given away for this guy and looks like the leafs will be challenging for thatcoveted spot this year (Last overall)

Not Kessel falt but many talented players have dawned a Leafs jersey without much success. The Leafs are just a BAD organization... Burke will try to change that but I believe Boston GM will look like a genius by the end of this year

I wish the KID luck ... I think he's going to need it

Toronto kills careers.  Raycroft was a rookie of the year...then came to Toronto and lost his game, mind and identity.  Toskala was a stud, came to Toronto and now he can't leave fast enough to most fans.

Now it will be the Monster...his win% is not good, his save % is not good, and his GAA is not good.  Luke Schenn will be a bust and the list goes on.

Good points MLB and I agree... Its as though they set players up to fail playing in T.O. .....

for obvious reasons we're all on  different sides of the octagon of the fence here...HC / where are you with this?

Glad someone sees it like I do OldPort

Can't think of the last time a player came to Toronto and actually prospered and got better.

Quote Originally Posted by weeble5672:



Makes perfect sense to me. Blake's been trying to do it all himself. He tries to carry the puck across the opposition's blueline with his stupid spinning move and it eventually results in him coughing up the puck. The hope is that Kessel will help prevent him from doing that kind of shit.

fraid not weebs 94SEGAGENESIS blake will keep danglin to look for this highlight reel g  untill he gets clooned...

Kessel Mitchell and Hagman.?

Dominic Moore was better with the Leafs, but only because he got first and second line time because there was no other options.

Weebs, if you're coach can't make him not do those things I don't see how Kessel will change that.

As I see it, you have two guys that like to score.  Blake does not pass the puck and Kessel cannot score without some kind of playmaker